Dredge for mining



April 9, 1940- l B'. o. GoDFREY 2,196,859

DREDGE Fon MINING n Filedsept. 17, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR 3er?! 0. Gad rey Byaaawfzq ATTORNEY 9, 1'940. i B. oQGoDFREY :msnen Fon umm@ Filed sept@ '17, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED su'rlifTE-s www 'PATENT/,OFFICE v2,196,359 DREDGE Fon Bert Godfrey, lroolxlyjnQN. Y. y Application September 17, 1938, Serial No.l 230,425 I A 4er-aims'. (orsi-fen y i This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dredges'.

` The invention particularly relates to an improvement of my Patent No. 1,461,240- patented y on July 10, 1923, and entitled Dredgev The invention relates to the construction of the conduits which' extend through a body of water, such as a stream, and into the mud, sand,

` gravel or the like at vthebottom of the body of l0 water. The patented invention 'discloses the provision of a certain nozzle space between the conduits used in the device. The present invention relates tothe construction of the conduits l in a mannerso that'the nozzle space may beadf .lusted and controlled.

Furthermore, the invention proposes con-`l structing the conduits of more or less standard pipe iitting connections;` and "alterating certain of these connections in minor respects to adapt them for the purpose desired. Y

Still further the invention proposesy the l provision of an indicator associated with the devicev in a mannerso that the size of I the nozzlev passage may be readily known and controlled when 2B required.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of locking-elements `arranged in 'a novel manner for locking certain portionsf of theconduit to control the nozzle passage. V

embodiments and modications which will be useful for facilitating digging anddredging and for facilitating assemblingand taking down of the device. This will become `clearer as the $6 specification proceeds.` Y v For further comprehension of the invention,v and of the'l objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which .the various novel. features of the invention are more particularlyA set lforth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- 45 structed according to this invention.-

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. l.

Fig. .f3 is a vertical sectional view of the article shown in Fig. 1, with aA certain'auxiliary bottom o hollow body added thereto.

, Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig'. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of `a device constructedaccordingto a modication ofthe invention. l

Still further the `invention proposes several Fig. lis aperspective View ofl adredgecon- Fig. `6isfafragment'arx'f sectionalv vie-w of the bottom portion ofFig.; l 1 'FigJl is' a fragmentary vertical sectional .View

. of' a device constructed according toy another embodiment of this iinventio'n.

Fig. 8 isv af-verticalsectional View of a device rconstructed yaccording to a vstill further `embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9"is a vertical sectional View illustrating a 'still Afurther modification".

` The dredge-,f according to thisginventionQin- .'cludes avalve controlled vertical inner conduit I0" having an internal upwardly y andv inwardly tapered bottomk end Portion II. An elbow I2 `has a portion of the inner conduit Ill engaged through the .vertical arm thereof. A nut I3 is xedly mounted on the extended endl of the p innerconduit I0 and is threadedly engaged into the top 'end ofthe vertical arm of the elbow I2 for holding the inner conduit in variousadjusted positions with respect'to the elbow. An outer conduit I 4 is ixedly'threadedly connected with the bottom end Vof theuvertical arm of the elbow y The' valve controlled inner conduit I0 is provided with a valve 2li at an'upper portion thereof. Thisvalve is; operated by a handle 2|. The handle2l is-'mounted on a pintle 22 which connects with the valve head 23 and serves to pivotally support the Valve head.- When the Vhandle 2| is moved it is possible to pivot the valve headk 23j to a position tor close thepassage through the valve. Thevalve body'ZI) is providedwith an oiset body portion 'ZUa'into'which the valve head 23v normally repos'es when the valve isf in an open position. w f

While this particular type of `valve islshown; it'should be understood-'that any other typeI may be used. The'tcp'of the valve body 20' is pro-V vided With threads 2llbvadapted to receive a conduit, not disclosed in this speciiicatin, as this arrangement would be the same as in theprior patent. l The horizontal .arm` I2a ofthe elbow I2 is `adapted to be connected with a iiuid pump similar to that described in the prior patent and for this reason duplication of the description will be omitted from this specification.

The outer conduit I A is formed from several sections which permit assembling and disassembling when required. There is an upper section Ilia and a lower section Ilib. These sections are locked together by a holding screw 24. The hollow body I5 is secured upon the bottom of the lower section Mb by a holding screw 25. 'Ihe arrangement is such that there is a definite space relationship between the inner conduit II) and the hollow body I5. An indicator pointer 26- is mounted upon the upper end of the inner conduit I0, above the nut I3, and extends over a portion of the elbow I 2 and operates across a scale 2I imprinted upon the elbow. This indicator 26 is useful in indicating the space relationship between the inner conduit I!)v and. the.

hollow body i5. The hollow tip IE is secured' in a predetermined position relationship with the hollow body I5. Consequently, the indicator 28 also indicates the space relationship between the adjacent ends of the inner conduit I0 and the hollow tip I6. In this manner it is possible to know the size of the nozzle passage.

AAnother indicator I5a is secured to the hollow body I5 and in conjunction with a graduated ring Iiia fixed on the hollow tip I B, is adapted to indicate the relative position of the tapered end portion I'I.

An auxiliary hollow casing 28. is mounted upon the bottom extended end of thev hollowtip I5. This auxiliary hollow casing 28 is formed' with a plurality of' openingsl 29. used as a screen to prevent any larger material than the openings 29 to pass into the hollow tip IG of'the device;

A fluid under high pressurev is forced into the horizontal arm I2a of the elbow I2 and it will travel down intothe hollow body I5. Then the uid will reverse itself and be forced up through the vnozzle between the tapered portions II and Il' and continue upwards through theinner conduit I il. The nozzle construction serves to produce'.suction in the hollow tip I6 andv it is this suction which' will draw up the material entering the hollow body 28. Several'radial vanes 30 are mounted upon a hub portion 3l engaged on the lower end of the conduitl I4. These varies engage the inner wall of the outer conduit I4 for securely holding the inner conduit properly axially spaced in the outer conduit.

In Figs. 5 and 6y anotherembodiment of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form merely in the construction and relation of the parts. According to this form of the invention there is an vinne-r conduit 35 which extends up through the vertical head of a T-conneetion 38. A iiuid supply pipe 3'! is connected with the side of the T-connection. A nut i8 is threadedly engaged on an extended portion' of the inner conduit 35 and is adapted to abut the top end ofthe 'lf-connection 35 for nx'- edly mounting the inner conduit.

The top end of the conduit 35- is provided with a valve 39. has an inwardly turned upwardly extending portion 4d which tapers and which is. cooperative with a tapered portion 4I on a hollow tip G2; This hollow tip 42 is mounted on the hollow body d3. A nut Q4 is threadedly engaged on the tip Hand acts against the hollow body 43 for lock-r ing these parts in position. f Thehollow body 43 is mounted upon an outer conduit 45 which is The casing 28 is high pressure.

The bottom end of the conduit 35r connected with the bottom end of the T-connection-36.

The suction nozzle between the tapered portions 4I3 and III may bc controlled by first loosening the nuts 38 and M, then adjusting the inner conduit 35 and the hollow tip Hl, and then resetting the nuts to hold the parts in their new positions.

In Fig. 7 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior forms in several respects. According to this form there is an inner conduit fit which extends through the top of a hollow body 4l. A nut 48 is threadedly mounted on an extended portion of. the conduit 48 and is abuttable against the body IVI for locking the conduit in a fixed position relative to the body. An indicator 69. is mounted upon an extended end of the conduit 66 and acts upon a scale 50 imprinted on the hol- `low body` 4'! to indicate the relative positions of these'parts and so indirectly indicate the size of the nozzle passage arranged between the lower end of the conduit 45| and a hollow tip 5I. This hollow tip is threadedly mounted through the bottom of the hollow body 47'. A nut 52 thread edly engaeesupon the tip and is abuttable against a portion of the hollow body 117 .for iixedly holding the tip relative to the body.

A T-connection 52' is mounted on an intermediate portion of the conduit 46. VA valve 53 is mounted on a top portion of the conduit 45. The T-connection 52 connects with a three-way valve 54. This valve is arranged in a pipe line 56 connected with the hollow body 4 1 and adapted to be connected with a supply of fluid under This three-way valve 54 vhasa valve proper a'ifia which may be turned so that the iiuid coming down the 'pipe 56 instead of discharging into the hollow body 4l is transferred to the inner conduit 4t. Or the valve proper 54a' may be placed so that the uid passing through the pipe 5B discharges into the hollow body 41,

The side wall of the casing of vthe three-way valve 54 is broken away to-illustrate the valve proper therein.. A handle 53 isindicated, connected with the valve proper 54a by which it may be moved from one to the other position. The purpose of the three-way valve is to control the passage Oiuid through the device in a manner similar to that describedin the patented invention previouslyv referred to.

The main outlet valve 20b enables the operation of the lower nozzle so that the water may pass through it in either direction. If this valve is Opern-the burrowing and lifting of material is done by suction created at `the lower nozzle. rIi

-then the valve is closed, the direction of the water fiow through the nozzle is reversed and the clearing of the nozzle is kdone by means of expelling the water. This promotes rapid operation and instantaneous clearingcf undesirable matter. i y

In Fig. 8 another form of the'invention has been disclosed which Adistinguishes fromy theprior form in theY construction of the nozzle. According to this form of Athe inventionthere' is a rcturn conduit (informed with a bottomofset portion 6I adapted to engage into the mud, sand. gravel or the like which is being dredged. An upward directed nozzle passage 52 is associated .with the pipe 60' coaxial with the top portion v thereof and located at the top of the osetportion 6I. Aiiuid supply pipe G3 is'connected with thebottom of the nozzle 62. Fluid under pres- 'sure which is forceddownwardslthifouglitthe vpipe `63.will pass 'upwards through the fnozzle Gland up along the Vpipe 60.' Thisfpassageof the uid will cause suction at the bottom offset portion 6l. vThis suction will draw up Ythe material to be dredged; The conduitl 60 is shown provided with .a valve 63a by 'whichthe 'passage there# y form of the invention is conduit 60 and thus the efficiency of the suction thru may be controlled. .'Inother respectsv this ously described. l L

In Fig. 9 another modified formof ,they invention is disclosed which is very similar to the form shown in Fig. 8, distinguishing merely in the'fact that this device is provided: with a' nozzle 62' which maybe adjusted relative to the offset portion SI1-of the vertical conduit B0. "Specically, the nozzlef62 is formed in a separate nozzle body which threadedly engages through a portion 6|)a in the side wall of the conduit 60. A nut 65 threadedly engages on thenozzle body 62' and is adapted to abut a portion of the conduit 60 for holding the nozzle body fixed, as adjusted. The dot and dash lines '6 2" indicate one adjusted position of the nozzle body. yIt should be rea-lized that the nozzle body 62 may be moved upwards. or downwards to variousl positions. A change of the position of the nozzle body will control the relative positions of the nozzle to the up'through the conduit 6|'.

It is yto be understood that mydredge apparatus can be operated 4not only by water under pressure, but also by compressed air, steam, etc.

While I have illustrated and described the prevferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit-myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed -and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letter Patent is:

l. In a dredge. a valve controlled vertical inner conduit having an internally upwardly and inwardly taperedfbottom end. an elbow connection tip adjustably mounted coaxially through the bottom of said hollow body and having a tapered top end cooperative with the tapered bottom end of said inner conduit for forming a suction noz--v zle, a nut threadedly engaged on an extended portion of said tip and engageable against the..

bottom end of said hollow body for holding said tip in position with relation .to the bottom end of said inner conduit, a scale on the verticall arm of said elbow, and an indicator mounted upon the extended portion of said conduit and cooperative with said scale for indicating the position of the bottom end of said inner conduit with vrela-- tion to the adjacent end of said tip and so register, the operative size of said nozzle,v said indicator comprising a collar adjustably mounted on the extended end of said inner conduit, and an indicatornger mounted on said collar and have ing its registering tip extending longitudinally ofsimilar vto thoseprevif theaxis' lof said vconduits and over the topedge` of said elbow to register on said scale.

\ 2..In adredge, a valve controlled vertical-inner; conduit having anv internally upwardly and inwardly tapered bottom end, anelbow connection-having a `portion of saidl inner conduit engaged through the vertical arm thereof,a nut xedly mounted on f said inner conduit 'and threadedly engaged into the upper end of said vertical arm `for` holding said inner conduit in` various adjusted positions with relation to said f elbow, an outerconduit engaged coaxiallyover said inner-conduit and flxedly engaged into the bottom'end of said vertical arm, a hollow body mounted on the ybottom end of said outer conduit, a hollow tip adjustably mounted coaxially through thebottom of said-.hollow body and having a tapered top endv cooperative with the tapered bottom end of said inner conduit for forming a suction nozzle, a nut threadedly engaged on an extended portion of said tip and engageable against the bottom end of said hollow body for holding said tip in position with relation to the bottom end of said inner conduit, and an indicator iinger mounted on said inner conduit and extending overa scale mounted on a stationary part to indicate the relative positionk 'v of the inner conduit relative to the said hollow tip.

conduit having an internallyv upwardly and inwardly tapered bottom end, an elbow connection having a portion of said inner conduit engaged 3. In a dredge, a valve controlled vertical innerl throughthe vertical arm thereof, a nut xedly mounted on saidv inner conduit and threadedly engaged into the upper end of said vertical arm y for holding said inner conduit in various adjusted positions withrelation to said elbow, an outer conduit engaged coaxially over said inner conduit and fixedly engaged into the bottom end `of saidv verticalarm, a hollow body mounted on` the bottom end of said outer conduit, a hollow` tip adjustably mounted coaxially through the bottom of said hollow body and having a tapered top end cooperative with the tapered bottom end of said inner conduit for forming a suction noz-v zle, a nut threadedly engaged on an extended portion of said tip and engageable against the bottom end of said hollow body for holding-said tip in position with relation to the bottom end of said inner conduit, a scale on the vertical arm of said elbow, and an indicator mounted upon the extended portion o1" said conduit and c0 operative with said scale for indicating the position of the bottom end of said inner conduit with relation to the adjacent end of said tip and so register the operative size of said nozzle, said indicator comprising va collar adjustably mounted on the extended end of said inner conduit, and

an indicator finger mounted on said collar'and having its registering tip extending longitudinally of the axis of said conduits and over the top edge of said elbow to register o-n said scale,

said scale vhavingits markingslongitudinally of the axis of said conduits in substantially the same plane as said registering tip of said indicator iinger.

4. In a dredge, a valve controlled vertical inner conduit having an internally upwardly and inwardly tapered bottom end, an elbow connection having a portion of said inner conduit engaged through the vertical arm thereof, av nut xedly mounted on said inner conduit and threadedly engaged into the upper end of said vertical arm for holding said inner conduit in various ad-f justed positions with relation to said elbow, an outer conduit engaged coaxially over said inner vconduit and xedly engaged into the bottomend of said vertical arm, a hollow vbody mounted on the `bottom end of said outer conduit, a hollow -tip adjustably mounted, coaxially through 'the anoasso tion of the bottom end of Isaid inner conduit with relationto the-ladjacent'end of said tip and so register the-operative size of said nozzle, said indicator'comprising 'a collar adjustably mounted on the extended end of said inner conduit, and ari-indicator finger mounted on said collarand having its registering tip extending longitudi-` nally ofthe axis of said conduits and over the top edge of said elbow toregister on said scale,y

said collar, comprising a pair of semi-circular collar sections engaging around said inner conduit at' right angles to the 'axis thereof, out

turned ends formed ontheends of said collar sections, Aand screws threadedly engaged through said outturnedy ends forv clamping said collar in various adjusted positions -on said conduit.

" BERT O. GODI'IREY. 

